Focused

By Relay

David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk throug... more

4.4

120120 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 247 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

November 19, 2024217: The Anxious Generation
David & Mike consider the hidden costs of prioritizing the virtual world over the real world and discuss ways that we can fight for focus in an age of distraction.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Mike's Minimalist iPhone Home Screen Experiment The Light Phone Day One Typefully What I’m Doing Now | Derek Sivers What I’m Doing Now | MacSparky Mike's Newsletter Sonnet Mechanical Keyboard | Mode Designs Plotter USA Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Bookworm #209: Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Free Time by Jenny Blake
...more
1h 19min
November 05, 2024216: Wholehearted Transformation, with Amy Wicks
Business and life coach Amy Wicks joins us to talk about the Enneagram personality assessment and showing up as our true selves.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Guest Starring:
Amy Wicks
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The FOCUSED Calendar Amy's Book Amy's Podcast The Enneagram Institute Kolbe A™ Index Simply Wholehearted Enneagram Quiz The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron Your Enneagram Coach Radical Candor by Kim Scott Good Work by Paul Millerd Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Snowball System by Mo Bunnell Give to Grow by Mo Bunnell Amy's Instagram
...more
1h 10min
October 22, 2024215: The Sparky Language Model
David & Mike revisit the topic of AI to consider what's changed in the last year and discuss how it can be helpful for those of us who strive to live a focused life.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The 2025 FOCUSED Calendar | NeuYear.net Focused #189: Focus & AI Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick Meet the Guys Dating A.I. Bots | Apple News Spiral Delphi Deep Work by Cal Newport Whisper Memos Otter.ai SaneBox Grammarly A System for Writing by Bob Doto Focused #209: A System for Writing, with Bob Doto RØDECaster Video | Video and Audio Production Console Gridfinity Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
...more
1h 25min
October 08, 2024214: Solving Gnarly Problems, with Clarke Ching
Clarke Ching ("The Bottleneck Guy") joins us to talk about finding solutions and fixing systems, both personally and professionally.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Guest Starring:
Clarke Ching
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Clarke Ching | The Bottleneck Guy LifeHQ | Practical PKM Simple Marketing For Smart People by Billy Boras and Tiago Forte The Goal: 40th Anniversary Edition by Eliyahu Goldratt Rolling Rocks Downhill by Clarke Ching Kolbe.com | Home of the Kolbe A™ Index Unique Ability | Find Your Purpose In Life And Define Your Best Self Why Every Racoon Needs an Architect The Bottleneck Detective Bootcamp (free email course) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Hyperefficient by Mithu Storoni Good Work by Paul Millerd Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks How to Manage Tasks in Obsidian | YouTube Morgen Calendar and Task Manager Motion Clarke Ching | LinkedIn CorkScrew Solutions: by Clarke Ching The Bottleneck Rules by Clarke Ching
...more
1h 20min
September 24, 2024213: Developing Skills
David & Mike discuss deliberate practice and the art of skill development — for both fun and profit.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Relay for St. Jude LifeHQ | Practical PKM So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Peak by Anders Ericsson Plotter USA The Ugmonk Pen Kuru Toga Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
...more
1h 8min
September 10, 2024212: Living the Llama Life, with Marie Ng
Llama Life founder Marie Ng joins us to talk about the relative time-boxing, the importance of systems, and eating your productivity vegetables.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Guest Starring:
Marie Ng
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Relay for St. Jude Two Years | 512 Pixels Llama Life | Find Your Focus TickTick Todoist Notion Day One Topo | The Not-Flat Standing Desk Anti-Fatigue Mat Analog™ by Ugmonk Gather by Ugmonk Focused #204: Analog Productivity, with Jeff Sheldon Plotter USA Marie Ng 🦙 (@threehourcoffee) | Twitter
...more
1h 23min
August 27, 2024211: The Focus MOB
David & Mike consider the role of Margin, Ownership, and Boundaries in the pursuit of living a focused life.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focus Like a Boss Margin by Richard Swenson Good Work with Barrett Brooks Slow Productivity by Cal Newport Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky Focused #70: Digital Decluttering, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad RØDECaster Duo Totebook | Studio Neat Plotter USA The Ritual Effect by Michael Norton Simple Marketing For Smart People by Billy Boras and Tiago Forte
...more
1h 28min
August 13, 2024210: Media Strategies for a Focused Life
David & Mike share the different ways they apply intentionality to their media consumption.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Hidden Genius by Polina Marinova Pompliano Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Dune by Frank Herbert Mike's Reading Workshop Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Mike's Newsletter on The Creativity Flywheel Focused #209: A System for Writing, with Bob Doto A System for Writing by Bob Doto Mike's Reading Workflow YouTube video The Morality of Happiness by Julia Annas The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Mike's Bookworm podcast E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | IMDb Doc Martin | IMDb Hypefury Usagi Yojimbo Blue Giant Simple Marketing For Smart People by Billy Boras and Tiago Forte Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
...more
1h 22min
July 30, 2024209: A System for Writing, with Bob Doto
Writer Bob Doto joins us to discuss creative systems, connecting ideas, and why you really should care about zettlekasten.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Guest Starring:
Bob Doto
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. A System for Writing by Bob Doto Bob Doto How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens Getting Things Done by David Allen Obsidian Field Guide (Plus Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo | YouTube Zettelkasten Forum Read Between the Lynes | Your Hometown Bookstore The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew Crawford The Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram The Political Philosophy of Poststructuralist Anarchism by Todd May Zettelkasten subreddit
...more
1h 27min
July 16, 2024208: Moving the Needle Revisited
David & Mike revisit the topic of moving the needle to discuss what's working and what's changed.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focused #74: Moving the Needle Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday Good Work podcast with Barrett Brooks & Nathan Barry Timing How to Do Cal Newport Style Multi-Scale Planning in Obsidian | YouTube Journaling in Obsidian Using Daily Questions | YouTube Deep Work by Cal Newport Simple Marketing For Smart People by Billy Boras and Tiago Forte Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew Crawford Mike's Reading Masterclass The Fellowship Of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
...more
1h 4min

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 247 episodes available.

More shows like Focused

The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

The Tim Ferriss Show

16,192 Listeners

The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project

2,710 Listeners

Thoroughly Considered by Relay

Thoroughly Considered

34 Listeners

Under the Radar by Relay

Under the Radar

213 Listeners

Mac Power Users by Relay

Mac Power Users

1,289 Listeners

Rocket by Relay

Rocket

373 Listeners

Material by Relay

Material

84 Listeners

MacBreak Weekly (Audio) by TWiT

MacBreak Weekly (Audio)

2,016 Listeners

The Vergecast by The Verge

The Vergecast

3,712 Listeners

The Talk Show With John Gruber by Daring Fireball / John Gruber

The Talk Show With John Gruber

3,143 Listeners

Accidental Tech Podcast by Marco Arment, Casey Liss, John Siracusa

Accidental Tech Podcast

2,143 Listeners

Connected by Relay FM

Connected

568 Listeners

9to5Mac Happy Hour by 9to5Mac

9to5Mac Happy Hour

731 Listeners

Remaster by Relay

Remaster

49 Listeners

Cortex by Relay

Cortex

1,284 Listeners

Ungeniused by Relay

Ungeniused

121 Listeners

The Pen Addict by Relay

The Pen Addict

398 Listeners

Upgrade by Relay

Upgrade

1,219 Listeners

Liftoff by Relay

Liftoff

129 Listeners

Top Four by Relay

Top Four

107 Listeners

Originality by Relay

Originality

8 Listeners

Automators by Relay

Automators

167 Listeners

Parallel by Relay FM

Parallel

6 Listeners

The Happiness Lab: Getting Unstuck by Pushkin Industries

The Happiness Lab: Getting Unstuck

14,337 Listeners

Pictorial by Relay

Pictorial

18 Listeners

The Test Drivers by Relay

The Test Drivers

192 Listeners

Flashback by Relay

Flashback

154 Listeners

Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

1,341 Listeners

Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

Best Laid Plans

807 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,277 Listeners

Conduit by Relay

Conduit

20 Listeners

Downstream by Relay

Downstream

86 Listeners

Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

Prof G Markets

1,444 Listeners